Rwanda’s women empowerment policies excite EU members of parliament

Members of Parliament from EU seek to borrow a leaf of Rwanda’s women empowerment.

A group of seven European Union women in Parliament have expressed interest in the way Rwanda has promoted women emancipation.

The team of EU women parliamentarians are in the country as from 19th September as part of borrowing a leaf of women empowerment, political and economic areas.

The delegation led by Hon. Iratxe Garacia Perez, today met members of the parliament and exchanged ideas especially on women rights as Rwanda remains world’s shining example.

With roughly 64 percent of women in Parliament, Rwanda is ranked the first country in the world followed by Bolivia with 53.3 per cent while Sweden from European Union takes a lead with 43.3%.

Speaking to the delegation, the chairperson Rwanda women in Parliament Forum (FFRP), Hon. Consolee Uwimana, took them through the path Rwandan women went through before they were incorporated into decision-taking positions.

Hon. Uwimana told the delegation that before 1994 women were sidelined from decision-making organs but today they play a crucial role in the life of the country.

She also cited among other examples that they brought their input in putting in place the new law governing land which gives equal right to land but the previous one had earlier denied women rights to land and monopolized by their brothers.

The head of European Union Parliamentarians’ delegation on Women’s rights and Gender equality committee, Hon. Iratxe Garacia Perez said that the visit aims to learn from Rwandan counterparts various issues including women empowerment, political, and socio-economic areas.

On their agenda, the delegation will meet government officials, members of the civil society and non-governmental organizations. They also will visit women’s empowerment projects around the country.